Elevated Bulk Storage Structure

ABSTRACT

Elevated bulk storage structures are used to contain materials for various applications. This invention relates to a composite elevated bulk storage system where the form for the concrete pedestal remains as an integral part of the system to be the finished surface of the pedestal.

The invention relates to an elevated bulk storage structure or tankcommonly used for elevated water storage but not limited to waterstorage. Public utilities, manufacturers, producers and other firms useelevated bulk storage for water, various liquids, slurries and dryproducts.

Elevated water tanks are commonly made of steel, concrete orcombinations of the two. Composite tanks using both concrete and steelgenerally use concrete for the pedestal and steel for the storagevessel. Concrete pedestals have been constructed with methods generallyreferred to as jump formed, slip formed or other method where atemporary form is used to contain the concrete until set and the formsubsequently removed. Exposed concrete is the pedestal's finishedsurface. Preformed concrete has also been used to build tanks andpedestals. Similarly, the exposed surface is concrete.

Form systems for residential and commercial building applications havebeen developed where the form contains poured concrete and remains aspart of the building after the concrete hardens.

This invention uses a form system for a concrete pedestal that remainsas an integral part of the pedestal of the elevated tank. The form canbe of synthetic or natural materials that cover the outside and/orinside surface(s) of the pedestal. The form would normally be thefinished surface of the structure but could be covered with facing, trimor surface treatment. The form is designed to contain concrete but couldcontain any filler materials suitable for the loads imposed. The formaccommodates doors, windows, vents, pipes and various penetrations.

The storage vessel can be but is not limited to fabricated steel orformed concrete similar to the pedestal. The storage vessels have beenmade of wood, various metals, and synthetic materials. The storagevessel is secured to the pedestal to accommodate structural loadsimposed by the contents, wind, seismic events and other forces as couldbe present. The pedestal is attached to a foundation to accommodatesimilar loads.

FIG. 1 shows the general view of the elevated storage structure.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of a typical pedestal form system.

1. An elevated bulk storage structure for water, other liquids,slurries, or dry materials composed of a supporting pedestal and storagevessel where the pedestal portion is formed of concrete and the form orportion of the form becomes a permanent component of the pedestalexterior and/or interior surface.
 2. The form in claim 1 is of syntheticmaterials.
 3. The form in claim 1 is of natural materials.
 4. The formin claim 1 is the exposed finished surface.
 5. The form in claim 1 iscovered with trim, facing or surface treatments.
 6. The form in claim 1contains a material other than concrete.
 7. The pedestal in claim 1 iscylindrical or of other regular or irregular polygon shape.
 8. Thepedestal in claim 1 accommodates doors, windows, vents, pipes and otherpenetrations.
 9. The storage vessel in claim 1 is of steel.
 10. Thestorage vessel in claim 1 is of synthetic material.
 11. The storagevessel in claim 1 is made with the same form as the pedestal.